Latching mechanism



Sept. 4, 1928.

' 1,683,553 A. L. KERR LATCHING MECHANISM Fil ed Oct. 25, 1927 INVENTOR.

Jib a LJfiz-rr,

' ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

l a 1 UNIT no *sTJA res PATENTOFFICE.

ALVA L. KERR, or mnnsrmnng enrol LATCHING MECHANISM.

Application filed October 25, ,1927. j sma1 No; 228,622;

This invention relatestoa latching mechanism, designed primarily for usein connection with garage doors,but it is to be understoodthat alatching mechanism, in accordance with this invention, may be employedfor any purposes'for whichit is found applicable, and the invention hasfor its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth,

amechanism of the class referred to for securing a' door in open and inclosed position when occasion requires.

Further objects of theinvention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a latching mechanism for the purpose referred towhich is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable,compact, thor onghly efficient in its use, conveniently operated whenitis desired to open the door from closed position and to close the doorfrom drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment .of the invention, butitis to be understood that changes, variations and; modificationscan-beresorted to which fall within thescope of theclaim hereuntoappended.

In the drawingswherein like reference characters throughout the severalviews: Figure 1 isan elevation of a latching mech anism', in accordancewith this invention,

showing the adaptation thereof in connection with a door and door frameand further set to p the arm 7 of the element 5 for the purpose ofmaintain the door latched in open position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a latching .mechanism in accordance withthis invention, and illustrating the position of'the same in full lineswhen latching the door in closed position and in dotted lines whenlatching the door in open position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in sectional elevation of the device asattached to a door. Figure a is a perspective view of the keeper 1element of the latching mechanism and with said element secured to thetop of the door frame.

Referring to the drawings in detail 1 denotesa door frame and the topthereof is indicated at 2. A door is illustrated and il'lCll'. cated at3 and which is hinged to the door denote corresponding. parts frame 1 asat 4. The foregoing elements are i merely ifl'lustratedby way of examplefor the purpose of showing the adaptation of a latch-. ing mechanism inaccordance with this lnvennon for the-purpose of latching the door nclosed position and for latchingit in an ex- 7 tended or open position.

A latching mechanism n accordance with this invention comprises acombined support and keeper element referred to generally at 5 and whichisofyoke-shaped form and includes a base 6,.a pair of arms 7, 8 and asecuring nut 9-. i The arm 8 is of greaterllength thanthe arm? and thelatter extends into the lower portion of the top 2 of the door frame.The arm 8 extendsthrough the top 2 of the door frame andhas its upperand threaded as at 10and engaging the saidthreaded end is thesecuring-nut 9 and which acts, in connection with. the short arm 7 ofthe element to clamp the latter ;to-the top 2 of theframe' 1,

1. The element 5' depends a substantial distanceffromthe top- 2, of theframe 1, to form a guide passage 11. The element 5.is dis-. posed at aninclination or obliquely-with respect to thelojwer face of the top 2 ofthe frame 1. P i

The latching. mechanism further, includes a latching element referredtoflgenerally; at 12 and consistingof abar 13 of angle shapedv crosssection ancl of substantial length. The

bar 13- has a vertically extending leg 14 and ahorizontally ext-endingleg 15 and thelatter projects from the upperendof the'leg 14 andisformedwitha polygonal shaped opening 16. The horizontal leg 15 at a pointinproximity-to its inner end is formed with a notch 17, and. i i-proximityto its outer end with a notch 18. IThe notch 18 coacts with latching thedoor 3 in closedflpositionand the. notch .17 coacts with the arm 7 ofthe ele- Figure 1.

Connected to the door 3, near the top'thereof and in proximity to thefree edge of the nection see Figure 1.

door body is a bracket 19 formedat its .top with an inwardly'directedextension 20 provided with an opening 21, and said bracketconstitutes asupport for a vertically disposed turning rod 22. Secured to the door 3,below the bracket 19, is an apertured keeper 23 through which extendsthe turning rod 22, and the lower end of the latter isprovided with anangular extension 24 which constitutes a handle.

The turning rod 22, in proximity to its 'upper end is provided with acollar 25, and

through the opening 21 and'the cotter pin 28 is arranged over said'cxt'ension20 and said cotter pin 28, in connection with the angular'end24, keeper 23 and extension 20 conples the rod 22 to the door. Thepolygonal shaped portion 26*of the rod couples it to the element 12; y

'It willbe assumed that the latching de vice is in position to latch thedoor closed, and when in such position the notch 18 receives the arm 7of the element 5 and in this connection see Figure 2; If it be desiredtoopen the door, the rod 22 is turned whereby therelement 12 will beshifted clear of the arm 7 and as the door is moved to openposition,theelement 12 will be carried therewith, untilthe notch 17 receives thearm 7. The rear end of the element 12 is provided with a spring 29 whichacts as a means to shift'the bar towards the arm -7 when the rear end ofthe bar is at the element 5 and under such conditions the notch 17 willbe caused'to receive the arm 7 therebylocking or latching the door 3 inopen position and in this con- The spring 29 is of hook shape andengages with thearm 8 of the keeper 5 to limit the outward shift ofthebar 12, so that it cannot pass entirely through thekeeper whereby thedoor is prevented from opening too far. To release the door from openposition,-the-rod 22 is given a turn, whereby theYnotch 17 is swungclear of the arm 7 and the element 12 can be moved means forholding orlatching thei door in rearwardly until the arm 7 engages the notch 18whereby the door 3 will be latched in closed position. The mechanism notonlyiprovides closed position, but also for holding or latching-the,door in an extended or open position, and therefore it is thought themany advantages of a latching mechanism in accordance with thisinvention and for the purpose referred to, can be readily'undewstoochand although the preferred embodiment of, the invention is asillustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes inthe details of construction can be had which will fall within thescopeof the invention as claimed. i

Unit I claim is: e

A latching mechanism forthe-purpose set :Forth comprising a stationary,angularly disposed yoke-shaped keeper elelnentproviding a combinedsupport and guide, a-latching element of Lshaped cross section includinga vertical and a horizontal legnndwith the horizontal leg "extendingfrom the upper end of the verticalleg, said latching elementslidablyextending through said keeper element and having its vertical.leg-supported by the keeper clement, said latchiiig element bodilyshiftable by a door on the opening so and closing thereof, a COIHlJlDCdreleasing and door connecting means for said latching elementconncctedto the horizontal leg thereof, the horizontal leg of saidlatching element being pmvidcd with a notch in proximity to its innerend and a notch in prox imity to its outer end, the inner of saidnotches enacting with the keeper element to latch the door in openposition and said outer notch coacting with the keeper element to latchthe door in closed position, and an outwardly projecting spring anchoredat itsforward end to the outer face of said vertical leg in proximity toits inner end and coacting with a one side of the keeperelement to forcethe latching element againstthe other side of the keeper element whenthe latching element is shifted outwardly.

In testimony whereof, Infiix my signature hereto.

, ALVA L. KERR.

